Strawberry plant named ‘P061105’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Strawberry plant named ‘P061105’, characterized by its upright plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; uniform fruit ripening; large conical fruits that are glossy and orange red in color with seeds positioned slightly below the surface; pleasant fruit aroma and taste; good fruit postharvest longevity; long flowering and fruit harvesting period; and low susceptibility to  Podosphaera aphanis  (powdery mildew) and  Phytophthora cactorum.

Botanical designation: Fragaria x ananassa.

Cultivar denomination: ‘P061105’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofStrawberry plant, botanically known as Fragaria x ananassa andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘P061105’.

The new Strawberry plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in America, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program was to develop new Strawberry plants with goodfruit quality, ease of harvesting, good postharvest longevity andresistance to pathogens.

The new Strawberry plant originated from a cross-pollination in 2009 inAmerica, The Netherlands of two unnamed proprietary selections ofFragaria x ananassa, not patented. The new Strawberry plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant from withinthe progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environmentin America, The Netherlands in 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Strawberry plant by vegetative cuttingsin a controlled environment at America, The Netherlands since 2010 hasshown that the unique features of this new Strawberry plant are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Strawberry have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘P061105’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘P061105’ as a new and distinct Strawberryplant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Uniform fruit ripening.    -   4. Large conical fruits that are glossy and orange red in color        with seeds positioned slightly below the surface.    -   5. Pleasant fruit aroma and taste.    -   6. Good fruit postharvest longevity.    -   7. Long flowering and fruit harvesting period.    -   8. Low susceptibility to Podosphaera aphanis (powdery mildew)        and Phytophthora cactorum.

Plants of the new Strawberry differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Strawberry produce fewer fruits per truss,        but larger fruits than plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Fruits of plants of the new Strawberry are firmer than fruits        of plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Fruits of plants of the new Strawberry are more flavorful        than fruits of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Strawberry differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Strawberry produce larger fruits than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Fruits of plants of the new Strawberry are firmer than fruits        of plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Strawberry have low susceptibility to        Podosphaera aphanis whereas plants of the male parent selection        are susceptible to Podosphaera aphanis.

Plants of the new Strawberry can be compared to plants of Fragaria xananassa ‘Mailing Centenary’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons,plants of the new Strawberry differ primarily from plants of ‘MailingCentenary’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Fruits of plants of the new Strawberry ripen later than        fruits of plants of ‘Mailing Centenary’.    -   2. Fruits of plants of the new Strawberry are glossier than        fruits of plants of ‘Mailing Centenary’.    -   3. Fruits of plants of the new Strawberry have seeds positioned        slightly below the surface whereas fruits of plants of ‘Mailing        Centenary’ have seeds positioned at the surface level.

Plants of the new Strawberry can be compared to plants of Fragaria xananassa ‘Florence’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons plants ofthe new Strawberry differ primarily from plants of ‘Florence’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Fruits of plants of the new Strawberry ripen later than        fruits of plants of ‘Florence’.    -   2. Fruits of plants of the new Strawberry are orange red in        color whereas fruits of plants of ‘Florence’ are darker red in        color.    -   3. Fruits of plants of the new Strawberry have seeds positioned        slightly below the surface whereas fruits of plants of        ‘Florence’ have seeds positioned at the surface level.

Plants of the new Strawberry can be compared to plants of Fragaria xananassa ‘Cristina’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,511. Inside-by-side comparisons plants of the new Strawberry differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘Cristina’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Strawberry are more upright and more        vigorous than plants of ‘Cristina’.    -   2. Plants of the new Strawberry produce more fruits than plants        of ‘Cristina’.    -   3. Fruits of plants of the new Strawberry are darker orange red        in color than fruits of plants of ‘Cristina’.    -   4. Fruits of plants of the new Strawberry are glossier than        fruits of plants of ‘Cristina’.    -   5. Fruits of plants of the new Strawberry have seeds positioned        slightly below the surface whereas fruits of plants of        ‘Cristina’ have seeds positioned at the surface level.    -   6. Plants of the new Strawberry have low susceptibility to        Phytophthora cactorum and Podosphaera aphanis whereas plants of        ‘Cristina’ are susceptible to most pathogens common to        Strawberry plants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Strawberry plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Strawberry plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of typicalflowering plants of ‘P061105’ grown in trays.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typicaldeveloping and developed fruits of ‘P061105’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown in 200-cc trays during the spring, summer andautumn in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in America, The Netherlandsand under cultural practices typical of commercial Strawberryproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures rangedfrom 5° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 1° C. to 12° C.Plants were four to five months from planting when the photographs anddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Fragaria x ananassa ‘P061105’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Fragaria x ananassa, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Fragaria x ananassa, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one to four days at            soil temperatures about 15° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four            weeks at soil temperatures ranging from 18° to 20° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            cream to white in color, actual color of the roots is            dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and            physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial; upright plant habit;            leaves basal; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit;            moderate growth rate; fairly densely foliated and somewhat            open canopy.        -   Plant height.—About 20 cm to 40 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 30 cm to 50 cm.        -   Stolon texture.—Moderately pubescent.        -   Stolon color.—Close to 144B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement and appearance.—Basal rosette; compound with            typically three or four leaflets per leaf; leaves            non-variegated.        -   Leaflet length.—About 11 cm to 12 cm.        -   Leaflet width.—About 11 cm to 12 cm.        -   Leaflet shape.—Broadly ovate.        -   Leaflet apex.—Obtuse, emarginate.        -   Leaflet base.—Obtuse to rounded.        -   Leaflet margin.—Crenate.        -   Leaflet texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;            moderately glossy.        -   Leaflet texture and luster, lower surface.—Pubescent, rough;            matte.        -   Leaflet venation.—Pinnate.        -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to            137A. Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 138A.            Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: Close to between            137A and 139A; venation, close to 144C. Fully expanded            leaflets, lower surface: Close to 138A; venation, close to            144C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 15 cm to 20 cm. Diameter: About 2.5            mm to 6 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent.            Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower form and flowering habit.—Rotate flowers arranged            singly at lateral apices; flowers held at or slightly below            the foliar plane; about five to seven flowers per truss and            more than 80 developing per plant; flowers are self-fertile.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; plants            flower in April and May in The Netherlands.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2 cm to 3 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 8 mm to 12 mm.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of seven or eight petals;            petals slightly imbricate. Length: About 8 mm to 12 mm.            Width: About 8 mm to 10 mm. Shape: Round to broadly ovate.            Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color:            When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 155D.            When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 155D.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement and calyx description: Two whorls of six            to ten sepals per whorl; calyx, star-shaped; calyx adherence            is weak to moderate; sepals are orientated towards the            fruit. Calyx length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Calyx diameter:            About 1 cm to 2 cm. Length: About 8 mm to 14 mm. Width:            About 5 mm to 10 mm. Shape: Lanceolate to ovate. Apex:            Acute. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 137A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 5 cm to 10 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm            to 2 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close            to 144B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3 cm to 8 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm            to 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 90° from the            peduncle axis. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to            144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 25.            Anther length: About 3 mm. Anther shape: Lanceolate to            elliptic. Anther color: Close to 8A. Pollen amount:            Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 6A. Pistils: Quantity per            flower: More than 250. Pistil length: About 1 mm to 2 mm.            Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 5A. Fruits:            Quantity per truss: About five to seven. Natural fruiting            season: Plants produce fruit from early June to mid-July in            The Netherlands; fruits fully ripen in about four weeks.            Postharvest longevity: About seven to ten days at 4° C.            Length: About 3 cm to 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 cm to 4 cm.            Shape: Conical. Fruit weight per fruit, first quality: About            22 g to 28 g. Fruit weight per plant, first quality: About            370 g. Firmness: Firm. Fragrance, taste: Pleasant; good            balance between sweetness and acidity. Luster: Uniformly            glossy; very glossy. Surface unevenness: Smooth. Color,            surface: Close to 34A. Color, flesh: Close to 33C to 33D.            Seed density: Medium. Achene position: Positioned slightly            below the surface, slightly indented. Achene color: Close to            32A.-   Disease and pest resistance: Plants of the new Strawberry have been    observed to have low susceptibility to Podosphaera aphanis (formerly    known as Sphaerotheca macularis) and Phytophthora cactorum. Plants    of the new Strawberry have not been observed to be resistant to    pests and other pathogens common to Strawberry plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Strawberry plant named ‘P061105’ asillustrated and described.